Lucrezia Ciotti The issue of strengthening Defense is back at the center of political debate. In an international context marked by growing tensions and new security challenges, the government Italian evaluates tools to enhance the operational readiness of the Armed Forces. Among the proposals on the table, the one for the establishment of an auxiliary reserve of military reservists, intended to support the Army in case of need.
The bill, promoted by the League and signed by MP Nino Minardo, will be examined by the Defense Committee of the Chamber starting from July 8.
Military reservists, the Democratic Party distances itself from the majority's proposal
The leader of the Democratic Party in the Defense Commission of the Chamber, Stefano Graziano, has firmly denied any support from his party to the proposal of the law presented by the majority. According to what has been stated, it is unfounded to claim that the PD is in favor of the establishment of a military reserve as outlined in the text promoted by the Northern League MP Nino Minardo.
Graziano stressed the need for clarity, reiterating his parliamentary group's clear distance from the contents of the proposal.
“It is evident that the Our bill is profoundly different from the one presented by the president of the Defense Committee of the Chamber, Nino Minardo, which, as can be clearly read in the text of the majority's bill, explicitly provides for the possible use of the reserve in the event of war. Any attempt to confuse the plans or to attribute to us intentions that do not belong to us it is instrumental and unacceptable", he concluded.
The Government's plan to recall 10 military reservists: the League's proposal
The proposed law provides that military reservists are selected exclusively from discharged Italian citizens who have served as Volunteers on initial (VFI) or three-year (VFT) contract. As indicated in the text, the auxiliary reserve will be made up of former military personnel from permanent service or from fixed-term assignments, up to a maximum of 10.000 units. These will be organized into regional nuclei, operating under the authority of the military structures designated by ministerial decree to be adopted within ninety days of the entry into force of the law.
The provision provides that the auxiliary reserve can be mobilised in the following cases:
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In times of war
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In situations of serious international or internal crisis, with potential effects on state security
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For the defense of national borders
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For logistical support and civil-military cooperation activities
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For the control of the territory, also in collaboration with the civil and military police forces
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In case of declaration of a national state of emergency, pursuant to Article 24 of the Civil Protection Code
The promoter of the bill, the Honourable Nino Minardo of the League, stressed that the issue has been the subject of an in-depth analysis in the Defense Commission, also through comparison with models adopted by other countries. In his opinion, this is a fundamental measure to respond to the strategic needs of the country.
The bill establishes that the Government's resolution regarding the mobilization of the auxiliary reserve must be transmitted to the Chambers, which are required to examine it within a peremptory deadline of forty-eight hours. Parliament, in compliance with its internal regulations, is required to authorize or reject the initiative through specific guidelines. At the time of sending, the Government is required to specify the purposes of the mobilization, the maximum number of reservists involved and the expected duration of the deployment.